Counter vs. Shiji Daylight PMS:
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The Decision

Choosing a property management system (PMS) is a critical decision that impacts your hotel's operations and guest experience. Counter by Counter and Shiji Daylight PMS are two solutions designed to streamline your processes, but they serve different hotel types and operational needs. Your choice hinges on your property size, guest profile, and specific feature requirements. Which of these will elevate your hotel’s efficiency and guest satisfaction?

Is Counter or Shiji Group Better for Hotels?

Counter by Counter is primarily built for hostels, offering a straightforward, user-friendly interface tailored for small-scale operations. In contrast, Shiji Daylight PMS caters to a broad spectrum of hotel sizes, from boutique hotels to large chains, providing extensive features for complex operations. While Counter emphasizes simplicity and ease of use, Shiji offers a deeper suite of functionalities suited for multi-property management. Do you need a lightweight tool or a comprehensive platform?

Counter vs Shiji: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel focuses on hostels or small properties where operational simplicity and quick onboarding matter most, Counter is the better fit. Its highly rated ease of use (4.6/5) and dedicated features for hostels, like POS integration and guest CRM, make it ideal for budget or boutique hostels with limited staffing. Conversely, if your hotel is part of a larger group or requires advanced automation, detailed reporting, and integrations, Shiji Daylight PMS's extensive feature set (83 unique features) supports these needs. Hotels seeking a scalable, multi-property solution should lean toward Shiji.

Is Counter or Shiji Easier to Use?

Counter has a UI rated 4.6/5, praised for its clarity, simplicity, and mobile-friendliness—perfect for hostel staff managing operations on the go. Users highlight its intuitive layout, making onboarding and staff training quick and straightforward. Shiji Group's PMS also scores 4.63/5 for ease of use, with a reputation for accessible training materials and a straightforward interface that reduces the learning curve. While both excel, Counter’s interface is slightly more praised for its simplicity, especially in hostel environments.
Edge: Counter.

Which Has Better Features: Counter or Shiji Group?

Counter offers 4 features unique to its platform, including a channel manager, booking engine, mobile app, and guest CRM—focused tools for small-scale operations. Shiji, with 83 features, provides a broad array of modules like multi-lingual support, online check-in/out, integrated CRS, guest messaging, housekeeping, and detailed rate management. If your hotel needs sophisticated automation, extensive integrations, or multi-property management, Shiji's feature richness clearly surpasses Counter.
Edge: Shiji Group.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Counter or Shiji Group?

Counter’s support is highly rated at 4.96/5, with reviews praising the responsiveness and helpfulness of team members like Evelyn and Max. Hoteliers appreciate their quick issue resolution, though some note slower support responsiveness in certain time zones. Shiji Group's support scores 4.53/5, with reviewers citing professionalism and helpful guidance, but some mention occasional delays during peak times. Overall, Counter’s support receives marginally higher praise for responsiveness.
Edge: Counter.

Which Has More Integrations: Counter or Shiji Group?

Counter connects with 7 verified partners, including Stripe, GOKI, and SiteMinder, focusing on essential channels and payment integrations. Shiji Group offers a vastly larger ecosystem with 64 verified partners, including major global systems like Amadeus, IDeaS, Duetto, and Revinate, supporting extensive hotel management needs. If your hotel relies on multiple integrations for revenue, distribution, or guest engagement, Shiji’s ecosystem is more comprehensive.
Edge: Shiji Group.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Counter or Shiji Group?

Counter's reviews, especially recent ones, are more numerous (54 reviews) and highly positive, with a 4.73/5 overall rating and 91% likelihood to recommend. Users—mainly hostels—praise its simplicity, fast support, and automation. Shiji’s ratings are less recent, with 32 reviews and a 0/5 overall score, indicating limited current feedback and less confidence in recent performance. Therefore, Counter’s recent, positive feedback makes it the stronger choice currently.
Edge: Counter.

How Much Do Counter and Shiji Group Cost?

Counter is free, making it highly accessible for budget-conscious hostels and small properties. Shiji Group charges $1,200 per month, reflecting its enterprise-level features and extensive integrations. The cost difference is significant: Counter offers a no-cost option, while Shiji’s pricing is suitable for larger hotels with complex needs and budgets.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Counter?

• Hotels that operate primarily as hostels, budget accommodations, or small inns.
• Teams seeking a simple, easy-to-learn system with essential PMS features.
• Properties that prioritize mobile management and automation of basic tasks.
• Hotels that want quick onboarding without extensive customization.
• Small operations with limited staff members handling daily reservations and guest management.

Not ideal if:

• Your property needs multi-property management.
• You require advanced revenue management or detailed reporting.
• You have complex group booking or event management needs.
• Your operations involve multi-currency, multi-lingual support, or integrated CRS.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Shiji Group?

• Hotels belonging to large chains or multiple properties that need centralized management.
• Luxury hotels and resorts seeking hyper-personalized guest experiences.
• Properties that require extensive automation, detailed analytics, and integrations.
• Hotel groups that want to streamline operations, reduce costs, and improve guest satisfaction.
• Hotels planning to scale operations and need a flexible, cloud-native PMS with future-proof features.

Not ideal if:

• You operate a small hostel or inn with minimal operational complexity.
• You prefer a free or low-cost solution.
• Your emphasis is on simplified, lightweight management without extensive features.
• Your staff is unfamiliar with advanced technology or complex systems.

The Bottom Line for Hotels

Counter by Counter is a straightforward, cost-free PMS designed exclusively for hostels, offering essential features with high ease of use and support. It’s ideal for small operations that need reliable automation without a steep learning curve, making it an excellent choice for budget-conscious hostels.

Shiji Daylight PMS, on the other hand, is a comprehensive, scalable platform suited for larger or multi-property hotel groups. Its vast feature set, integrations, and automation tools help streamline complex operations, enhance guest experiences, and support growth.

If your hotel is a small hostel or boutique property needing simplicity and quick deployment, Counter is your best fit. If you manage multiple properties or require a full suite of customization, automation, and detailed reporting, Shiji is the more strategic choice.

Ultimately, the decision hinges on your property size, operational complexity, and future growth plans. Both systems have distinct strengths, but the recent, higher ratings and review volume for Counter give it a clear advantage in current hotelier confidence.